Chapter 80

The world knows only of the four appearances: the appearance of the self, the appearance of human beings, the appearance of all living beings, and the appearance of longevity. Little do they know that between heaven and earth, there is a fifth appearance—the dual birth appearance of gods and demons, which coexists in both Taoism and Buddhism. As the name suggests, one who possesses this appearance can become a deity with a single thought, or a demon with a single thought! Take the old Yuan of the late Qing Dynasty, for instance. For the first half of his life, he worked conscientiously and diligently for the country and the people; this was the divine thought. Toward the end of his life, he listened to slanderous advice and attempted to crown himself emperor, disregarding the country and the people plunged into misery and suffering; this was the demonic thought.